Sanitary toothpick holder



Nov. 13, 1928.

- F.- Q. SLAY SANITARY TOOTHPIGK HOLDER Filed 001,9, 1925 WITNESS Slay INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, i928,-

Lemar orricn.

SANITARY 'roo'rnrrox HOLDER.

Application filed October 9, 1925. Serial No. 61,549.

The object of this invention is to royide means for receiving a supply of toot plcks,

' matches or other articles of approximately similar configuration, and causing them to be discharged one at a time from a holder, when pressure is exerted by the hand on one element of the device.

, A further object is to provide a housing and a vertically movable resiliently mounted hopper within the housing, said hopper including a central stationary element or pin adapted to engage the lower ends of the articles to be fed one at atime, and hold them while the hopper acting under pressure of the hand moves the remainder of said articles downwardly, and leaves the article to be withdrawn projecting upwardly in position for easy removal.

A further object is to provide a lock released by the insertion of a coin and adapted to retainthe hopper inactive prior to the insertion of the coin, in the event that pencils, cigars or other articles of moderate value are to be dispensed by ,the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the s irit of the invention.

In the drawings orming part of this specification:-

Figure 1 is a viewof the device in side 'ele-= vation. v

Figure 2 is a vertical section. v

Figure 3 is a vertical section showing the device receiving the tooth. picks in lower position, one of these articles having been fed to position permitting the easy withdrawal thereof.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the housing and a central supporting element.

Figure 5 is a detail view in section, showing a portion of the central stationary element.

Figure 6 is a detail view, in vertical section, showing a modified cap for the hopper.

Figure? is a detail view, in elevation, showing a modified pin or spindle for use in. dispensing quillsfor cold drinks.

The main housing is designated 10 and includes a lower ornamental su porting flange or the like 11, the housing eing provided with a top 12 having a centralia perture or opening through which the tooth pick receptacle or hopper 13 is movable. This hopper includes the lower funnel shaped portion 14:, and further includes the upper threaded end 15 adapted for engagement by a cap 16. Cap 16 is provided with the feed aperture 17, through which a tooth pick or any other article shown at 18 in Figure 3 is to be moved. It will be understood that in reality the tooth pick after having assumed a central position is stationary and that the reserve supply of tooth picks is moved away from the central article-by the down movement of the-hopper.

The centrally located article 18. is supported by pin or spindle 20 mounted in a fixed position at 21 in element 22 extending across the base portion of thehousing. In the position of Figure 2 the pin is at the lower endelement 14:, and when the hopper .13 has moved downwardly to the position of Figure 3 the upper end of pin 20 is at about the central portion of the hopper. I

Surrounding pin 2O is a coiled spring 23 bearing on the lower transverse e1ement22 and this spring having its upper end hearing at 24 on the lower end of element 14 of the hopper. The spring directly engages the projecting portion 14 of element 14:. The

s rin bein com ressed in the downward movement of the hopper, under pressure of the hand will expand when the pressure is relieved and will move the hopper upwardly to normal position. From the construction disclosed it will be observed that the device may be assembled without use of tools, because the transverse element 22 has its end: loosely supported in the base prior to the mounting of the spring which retains both the hopper and the element 22.

In Figure 5 pin 201's recessed on the upper end for engaging a tooth pick or the like, but in a modification illustrated in Figure 7, the element 20 has a cone-shaped upper end for use it cold drink quills are to be dispensed Figure 6 shows a capl6 for hopperltl the cap having an opening it" with a sell closing cover 25, for protecting the contents of the device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a device of the class described a hou ing having an opening in the top thereof, a hopper extending into the housing thru said the housing, an apertured cap for the hopper, self-closing closure means for the aperture of the cap, a pin fixedly mounted inthe transverse element and positioned to pass through the lower end of the, hopper and into the latter incident to downward movement of the hopper, and a spring holding the hopper in an upper position, the spring 10 having its lower end bearing on the transverse element and acting as a retaining device therefor. I

Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FURMAN SLAY. 

